Coupling device.



G.C.CLARK. COUPLING DEYIGB. APPLIGATIQN FILED JULY 19, 1912.

1,053,277. v v Patented Feb.18,1913.

WITNESSES fiy/WS. 6? a 5 2 Stoughton,

CYRUS C. CLARK, OF'STOUGHTON, WISCONSIN.

COUPLING DEVICE.

1 953,27 '7 Specification of Application filed July 19,

Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 18, 1913. 1912. Serial No. 710,517.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Crane C. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Coupling Devices, ofwhich thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements incon ling devices such are adapted to be empibyed" for attaching hayloaders or other trailing devices to a hay ,rack or vehicle.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a coupling device ofthis character whichincludes a coupling bracket embodying novel featuresof construction whereby it can be easily and quickly attached to orremoved from the reach of any hay loader or vehicle, thereby enablingthecoupling device tobe employed in connectionwith any one of a numberof vehicles without the ne pling member.

cessity of duplicating the parts and providing each'of the vehicles witha complete cou- A further object of the invention is to provide acoupling device which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in itsconstruction, "which is positive and reliable" in its operation, andwhich admits of the hay loader or other trailer being quickly attachedto or detached from the vehicle.

With these and/other objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel combinat-ions and arrangements ofthe parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, thenovel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, in

- which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a coupling device constructed inaccordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view through the same. Fig. 3 is adetail perspective view ofthe end of the vehiclereach to which the coupling bracket or member isdesigned to be attached, and Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view ofthe coupling member which is adapted to be applied to the vehicle reach.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the sameIteferrmgto the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a wagon reach of theusual construction, and 2 the tongue of a hay loader or similar trailingdevice, a pair of cooperat n coupling members A and B being appliedrespectively to the wagon reach and hay loader tongue.

Thepeculiar construction of the coupling member A whereby it can be soreadily applied to orremoved from a wagon reach is the essential featureof the invention upon which it is more particularly desired to obtain protection. Thiscoupling member A comprises a pair of spaced andsubstantially parallel side plates 3 which are adapted to be applied toopposite sides of the reach 1 and project beyond the extremity" thereof.The free ends of the side plates 3 are flared at 3 and connected by across bar or horizontal web 4. The coupling member B is provided with aknuckle 5 adapted to engage the notched, middle portion 4 of the web 4,and the flared ends 3 of the side plates 3 serve to direct the couplingmember 13 into a proper engagement with the cross piece or web 4. Theplates 3 are provided upon the outer faces thereof with thelongitudinally'extending reinforcing ribs 6 which also engage the flaredends 3 of the plates and cooperate with the ends of the horizontal web4.to hold the said flared ends of the plates rigidly in position.

It will be observed that the side plates 3 are widest at an intermediatepoint in their length and gradually decrease in width toward theopposite ends.thereof. The wide ntermediate portions of the side plates3 are connected by the transverse pins 7 upon which the clamping wings 8are pivotally mounted, the said clamping wings being adapted to engagethe top and bottom of. the reach 1. The rear ends of the side plates 3fit against and engage opposite sides of the reach 1, .while theclamping plates 8 are swung against the top and bottom of the reach andretained securely in position by means of some fastening member such asthe bolt 9 which is shown as passing through the reach and the clampingwings. In the present instance, the reach is shown as provide with theusual coupling ring 10 which is held in position by means of the strap11, although this constitutes no part of the present invention and isnot essential to the sucreference characters.

. m r ly necessary t slid helat h The bolts filves to ion the reo plng mn-- A secure y pon, the re ch 1., al hough y rem ving the b t th upl ngm mbe an be ea i y detached f should such become desirable,

The o p rating Coup ng m mber B m y b of apis itob onst uc n nd s a p ereach,

d. t be p rm nt y p ied t the t ngue 2 of the .ayv o s or t rel-trail gd e- This coupling member B is shown as formed w h a sbe t 2nd a Pa atared jaws V diverging outwa dly away .t' om th ock t, the S d iews b nga apted o engag t c s pi e 9 t iecqurling n v nr her A and direct thesame intoengagexnent with the knuckle ,This knuckle 5 is fo d with a on5'? adapt d. t be engaged by a s iding e eh N 4: to ho d h 'l u k inoperative ositi ojn When it is desired to di onn c e oupling membe s, a'1 a d ye out o engagement ithv rth tail 5" so a to r le the k uck e 5-h s k e 5 is pivoted within th socket 12 upon a pivot pin 15, the lowerportion of the nuckle be ng r19 y conn cted, to a i 6 wh ch e g ge '.a ad ng, d nt 17. h

sliding :detent 17 is to engagethe teeth 18 of a rod 19 beveled nose of,this adapted which passes loosely through the tongue 2 the uppert end ofthe rod beingadapted to I be connected in the usual. manner to the@ uppP r f e 19 merely holding the hay "loader iiii-position-where thetongueis supported otherwise than a leg, a spring 20 which is arranged abovethe tongue 2 normally tending to push the rod 19 upwardly. A sprin 21normally tends to force the detent position, although the leg the detent17 out 17 into operative o s g 'g meh w t t e rack 18 when thelmuckle 5is in o erative nuckle position. However, as soon .asthe I 5 isreleased, the detent 17 will be permitted to'engage the rack 18 so as toretain the rod 19 against excessive upward sliding movement. This,however, the present invention and may be of any conventionalconstruction,

The coupling member 'A may be quickly applied to means of the clampingaction of the wings 8 and bolt 9. This admits of the coupling member Abeing quick-1y shifted from one vehicle to another vehicle, and alsoenables to be applied in connection with any vehicle which the farmer orprospective user may have. c

Having thus described the invention, what plates adapted to be fittedloading frame, This rod constitutes the usugl means for,

16 serves to hold constitutes no part of since the exact manner ofconstructing the coupllng member B 1s immaterial.

any one of a number of vehicles and is always held-rigidly in positionby I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is; I i

L A c p ng membe ,in nd n a Pai of spaced and substantially para lel sde against opposite sides of. a wagon reach and to project beyond the weon reach, a transverse coupling web connectmg the projecting ends o theside -plates, transverse ins connectin intermediate portions 9 thesideplates, dumping ings hinged upon the transverse pi a d adap ed to bswung nto enga inent with the top and bottom of the rim on reach, and afastening member for holding th mp w s i po ition 2. A coup ing memberincluding a pair of spaced and substantially parallel side platesadapted to beappl ed to opposite sides o a ag n eacha dt P je t eyondthe same, the projecting ends of the plates being flared outwardly awayfrom each other, a transverse coupling web connecting the flared ends ofthe side plates, longitudinal reinforcing ribs extendin along the outerfaces of the side plates and also along the flared ends thereof so as tocooperate with the transverse couplin web t n-hold the flared ends ofthe plates rigidly in position, transverse pins connecting intermediateportions of the side plates,

clamping wings hinged upon the transverse pins and adapted to be swungagainst the top and bottom of the wa on reach, and a fastening memberextend ng through the wagon reach and engaging the clamping wings toretain the coupling member rig-- idly in position.

3. A coupling member including spaced and substantially parallel sideplates adapt-' ed to be applied to opposite sides of a wagon reach andto (project beyondthe wagon reach, the sui tapering in width towaropposite ends thereof and the projecting ends thereof being flaredoutwardly, a transverse c'oupling bar connecting the flared ends of theside plates, longitudinal ribs extendmg along the outer faces of theside plates and also vengaging the flared ends thereof, spacedtransverse p ns connecting the wider intermediate portions of the sideplates, clamping wings hinged upon the transverse pins and adapted toengage the top and bottom of the wagon reach, and a fasteningmember forholding the clamping wings in position. a y

In testimony whereof I hereunto atfix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

' CYRUS C. CLARK.

Witnesses:

G. L. Gnans, H. 0. Com.

[plates gradually 105

